Combined shoe heel shaping and lasting machine



June 10, 1969 A. WEINSCHENK COMBINED SHOE HEEL SHAPING AND LASTINGMACHINE Filed May 22, 1967 Sheet \K n REWK L y e m n W M n m.! ucc w M Bt r 3 lb A June 10, 1969 A. WEINSCHENK COMBINED SHOE HEEL SHAPING ANDLASTING MACHINE Sheet Filed May 22, 1967 FiG. 2

A I bet-L .INVENTORI flttoi-neys June 10, 1969 A. WEINSCHENK COMBINEDSHOE HEEL SHAPING AND LASTING MACHINE Sheet Filed May 22, 1967 INVENTOR:fl/Aed weinsclwenk June 10, 1969 A. WEINSCHENK 3,448,472

COMBINED SHOE HEEL SHAPING AND LASTING MACHINE Filed May 22, 1967 Sheet4 of 5 lNVENTOR.

Alber-E We insch enk e? fia ol-neys June 10, 1969 A. WEINSCHENK3,448,472

COMBINED SHOE HEEL SHAPING AND LASTING MACHINE Filed May 22, 1967 Sheet5 of 5 INVENTOR Z Alba-4i weinschenk United States Patent H Int. Cl.A43d 21/12, 23/00, 11/12 US. Cl. 12-10.1 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE In a shoe heel shaping and lasting machine, the shoe last ismounted on a last jack which is rotatable between a first position inwhich the heel of the shoe last faces toward the operators side of thelasting machine and a second position in which the heel of the shoe lastfaces away from the operators side of the lasting machine. In the firstposition of the shoe last, the upper portion of a shoe which is mountedon the last can be quickly and easily adjusted to center the upperportion of the shoe for a heel shaping and lasting operation which isperformed in the second position of the shoe last. In the firstposition, the longitudinal axis of the shoe last preferably forms anangle of between 20 degrees and 50 degrees with the horizontal, and inits second position, the longitudial axis of the shoe last preferablyforms an angle of between degrees and 45 degrees with the vertical, withthe heel of the shoe last facing upwardly.

Background of the invention In a shoe manufacturing process, the heelshaping operation is of particular importance. The objective of thisoperation is to impart to the heel portion of the shoe upper the exactshape of the shoe last. As a prerequisite thereof, the heel stiffeningmember must also conform exactly to the shape of the last. Since theheel portion differs in the lasts employed for the manufacture ofdiffering shoe models, the heel stiffening member receives its finalshape suitably only during the course of the shoe production. In thisconnection, thermoplastic heel stiffening members have proven to beparticularly advantageous. Such stiffening members can be softened byheating before they are inserted between the upper material and theupper lining, whereupon they can be deformed on the heel shaping machineby the use of pressure and heat so as to conform exactly to the shape ofthe last. The heel shaping proper is effected by the socalled heelforming pad of the heel shaping machine. This heel forming pad, whichcan consist of a resiliently elastic material, for example polyurethane,has an approximately U-shaped form and can be pushed from the rear overthe lasted upper and pressed against the heel portion thereof, so thatdue to the pressure exerted by the pad on the upper, the stiffeningmember is shaped in correspondence with the contour of the last. Afterthe shaping step, and after cooling, the stiffening member and thus alsothe heel portion of the upper retains the shape imparted thereto.

Since the softened condition of the stiffening member lasts only a veryshort time, and since the stiffening member must already have beeninserted between the upper material and the lining when the upper islasted,

it is necessary to shape and last the heel of the upper before the toelasting step is carried out. Thus, the shoe is worked from the reartoward the front. In this connection, care must be taken that after thegrippers engaging the front portion of the upper, which grippers pullthe upper forwardly, i.e., toward the tip of the last, have beenoperative, and before the heel shaping pad is attached, the heel seam ofthe upper is positioned exactly in the center, i.e., on the verticalline of the last. In general, it is necessary, after pulling the upperforwardly by means of the pulling grippers, to execute a manualcorrection, in such a manner that, by shifting the upper on the last,the heel seam is placed in the right position. This correction, whichmust be carried out manually by the person operating the machine, shouldbe executed simply and rapidly.

The above noted correction can not, however, be executed simply andrapidly in the conventional combined heel shaping and heel lastingmachines. In these machines, the shoe last, which is seated on a lastjack, is arranged so that the heel seam and the front portion of theupper at which the pulling and correction grippers are effective are notin the line of sight of the operator standing in front of the machine.Therefore, the correction of the position of the heel seam is madedifficult. Moreover, such difliculty can not be overcome by providing amirror for reflecting the heel seam to the operators eye as is done inconventional heel shaping and heel lasting machines. This deficiency ofthe conventional heel shaping and heel lasting machines is caused by therequirement, which is quite correct per se, that the last be positionedon the last support in such a manner that the mortising process in theheel portion can be observed by the person operating the machine so thatit can be perceived in time whether any corrections must be made. Thus,in the heel section, the last bottom must be in the line of sight of theoperator, as is the case generally in the heel lasting machines whichare commercially available. This requirement has heretofore beenconsidered unreconcilable with another requirement, namely to positionthe last, for the purpose of easily correcting the position of the heelseam, in such a manner that, as is customary in toe lasting machines,the heel seam and the front portion of the upper are positioned in theline of sight of the operator. This requirement was based on theconsideration that the working habits of the operating personnel withrespect to toe lasting machines should be taken into account. A changein such work habits would surely entail a decrease in efficiency.

Therefore, the usual procedure in the past has been to perform the heelshaping and glue-lasting of the heel on two different machines. This,however, involved a corresponding excessive expenditure in equipment andwork.

Summary of the invention It is the object of this invention to provide acombined heel shaping and heel lasting machine, particularly a heelglue-lasting machine, having means for correcting the position of theheel seam wherein the two above-mentioned conflicting requirements canbe reconciled with each other.

This object is attained, according to the invention, by making the lastjack pivotable between a first position, called the correcting positionin the following description, wherein the heel of the last faces towardthe operators side of the machine and the last forms an angle with thehorizontal of from 10 degrees to 60 degrees, preferably between 20degrees and 50 degrees, and upwardly into a second position, called thelasting position in the following description, wherein the last facesaway from the operators side of the machine and forms an angle with thevertical of more than.() degrees and at most 90 degrees, preferablybetween 10 degrees and 45 degrees, with the heel of the last extendingupwardly. Since the last is positioned at a right angle with respect tothe last jack, the latter forms an angle with the horizontal, in thecorrecting position, of between 100 degrees and 150 degrees, preferablybetween 110 degrees and 140 degrees and, in the lasting position, formsan angle with the vertical of more than 90 degrees and at most 180degrees, preferably between 100 degrees and 135 degrees.

By means of the above-described adjustability of the last jack, in thecorrecting position of this invention, the heel seam and the front panelof the shoe upper are in the line of sight of an operator standing infront of the operators side of the machine, in the lasting position, thelast bottom is positioned in the operators line of sight.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a lateral view, partiallyin section, of one embodiment of this invention with a last in thecorrecting position, the side wall of the machine housing beingpartially cut-away to give a direct view of the essential parts of theinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a lateral view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1 with thelast in the lasting position.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the lastingportion of the embodiment shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged lateral view of a modified form of grippermounting for the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 5 is a top view of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 4 on a reducedscale, the parts identical with the embodiment of FIGURES l to 3 beingomitted for the sake of clarity.

FIGURE 6 is a lateral view taken in the direction of the arrow in FIGURE5.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring to FIGURES 1 to 3, ashoe last 1 with the upper portion 2 of a shoe pulled thereover ismounted on a supporting member designated in its entirety by referencenumeral 3 and provided with a mounting pin 5 engaging a bore of the last'1. When the upper 2 is pulled over the last 1, the stiffening memberessential for the shaping of the heel has already been inserted betweenthe upper and the lining of upper 2. The supporting member 3 is seatedon a last jack 6, which is shown in FIGURE 3 in its neutral position,from which it can be moved, as will be described in detail below, in thedownward direction, i.e., toward the last stop abutment 7.

For moving last jack 6, two hydraulic units are provided mounted to amain support member 9 which is pivotable about an axle 8. The hydraulicunit formed by the cylinder 10 and the piston 11 serves for moving thelast jack out of its basic position, i.e., the position of the jack inthe correcting position of the last (FIGURE 1). As can be seen fromFIGURE 3, two bearing surfaces 12 and 13 are provided for the piston 11,which surfaces differ noticeably in size from each other. The smallerbearing surface 12 has the hydraulic fluid supplied thereto from aconduit 14 by way of inlet 15 and central bore 16 of the cylinder 10.The larger bearing surface 13 receives the hydraulic fluid from theconduit 17 by way of the inlet 18. The feed of hydraulic fluid via theinlets 15 or 18 is controlled by a valve which is not shown in thedrawings. The force with which the last jack is extended is dependentupon which bearing surface of the piston is under the effect of thehydraulic fluid. As will be described in detail below in connection withthe mode of operation of the machine, the hydraulic fluid is appliedagainst the smaller surface 12 in the first moving stage of the jack.

The piston 11, during the extending movement, presses against element 19which is positively coupled to last jack 6, thereby moving the last jackdownwardly toward the last stop 7.

A second hydraulic device with a cylinder 20 and a piston 21, likewisemounted to the main support member 9, serves for returning the jack toits basic position and for arresting it in this position. The cylinder20 receives hydraulic fluid by way of the inlet 22. During the extendingmovement, the piston 21 presses upon an abutment 23 provided at element24, which is mounted to the end of the jack 6. A connecting piece 25 isconnected with element 24 by means of a threaded coupling 26. The screwsof coupling 26 extend through a longitudinal slot 27 so that connectingpiece 25, after the screws have been loosened, is displaced with respectto element 24 and can be fixed in a new position after tightening of thescrews. By this means, the supporting arm, which is designated in itsentirety by reference numeral 28, for the two pulling grippers 29provided beside the last and the holding means for the last tip, whichhas the shape of a roller and is designated by reference numeral 30, canbe adjusted. The connecting piece 25 establishies the connection betweenthe supporting arm 28 and the last jack 6; the supporting arm 28 beingjoined to the connecting piece by means of a pin 31.

In order to pivot the supporting arm 28 outwardly, a hydraulic device isarranged in the element 19 which is fixedly connected with the jack 6.This hydraulic device comprises the cylinder 3-2 and the piston 33. Thehydraulic fluid is fed via an inlet 34. As can be seen from FIGURE 3,the piston 33, upon being extended, presses on the supporting arm 28,which is thereby pivoted from its normal position downwardly. Thesupporting arm 28 is guided in a slot of a plate 36 connected with theelement 19. The lower rim of slot 35 serves as an abutment for limitingthe distance which can be traversed by supporting arm 28 under theaction of piston 33. If the hydraulic pressure is removed from thecylinder 32 and piston 33, then the supporting arm 28 is returned to itsoriginal position by the spring 37. One end of spring 37 engages element19, and the other end thereof engages supporting arm 28.

In order to alter the normal position of supporting arm 28, a set screw38 is provided held in a bearing 40 which is connected with the element19 and is provided with a threaded bore 39.

Supporting 'arm 28 has an axial bore 41 at its end facing the last, anda threaded bolt 42 is inserted into bore 41, which bolt forms anextension of supporting arm 28 and has the effect of a spindle, incooperation with an adjusting nut 43. In order to prevent an axialdisplacement of nut 43, the latter is fixedly attached to the supportingarm 28. By means of adjusting nut 43, provided with handles 44, foreasier manipulation thereof, the pulling grippers 29 connected with thethreaded bolt 42 can be adjusted, as will be described in detail below.

A crosspiece 45 having the effect of a two-armed lever and the shape ofa gripper-supporting bearing is attached to the front end of the bolt42. One spring 46 presses upon each of the arms of crosspiece 45, theother end of spring 46 resting against an abutment 47 fixedly connectedto bolt 42. At each arm of the gripper-supporting bearing 45, a bearing48 for a bolt 49 is connected to be pivotable with respect to bearing45. A pulling gripper 29 is suspended from the bolt 49. By moving bolt49 within bearing 48, the height of the pulling gripper with respect tothe bottom of the last can be adjusted. By pivoting the bearing 48, itis possible to position the grippers 29 beside the last in any lateralposition required by the shape of the last bottom. By means of thebearings 48, the grippers 29 can be adjusted in an in-line or lateralmanner with respect to the sides of the last. This adjustment can becarried out by means of the regulating screw 112 provided for eachbearing 48, which screw is mounted on hearing 48.

Once the pulling grippers 29 have gripped the upper 2, either one or theother longitudinal side of the upper can be pulled toward the toe of thelast by pivoting the gripper-support bearing 45, thus correcting theposition of the heel seam. After the last has been removed from themachine, the gripper-support bearing 45 is returned to its neutralposition by the moment of rotation exerted by the spring 46 which iscompressed to a larger degree.

The holding means 30 for the last tip, which is shaped as a roller, isattached to the front face of the threaded bolt 42.

In a lug 51 connected with the supporting arm 28 by the threadedconnection 50, a rod 52 is displaceably mounted. A rod 54 arcuately bentover a right angle and engaging underneath the last bottom is fastenedto the front end of the rod 52 by means of a connecting link 53. The rod54 can be locked in predetermined positions in the connecting link 53.

A rocket 57, which can be swung out about an axial bolt 56, is attachedto the end of the rod 54 by a bearing block 55 positioned beneath thebottom of the last. Rocker 57 contacts the bottom of the last by meansof rollers 58 and 59. Rocker 57 can be pivoted in a plane parallel tothe central plane of the last and is positioned in such a manner thatrollers 58 and 59 contact the bottom of the last on both sides of thepoint A (FIGURE 3) at which the direction of curvature of the lastbottom changes. This provides a firm mounting for the last, preventingthe latter from sliding off the pin 5 of the last support 3. By means ofthe rocker 57, the position of which can be adapted to the respectivecamber, the last is likewise maintained in a flush contact with the lastsupport 3, thereby ensuring the correct position of the last during thelasting of the heel.

The rocker 57 is pressed against the last bottom by a spring 60 attachedon the rod 52. Spring 60 rests with one of its ends against block 51 andwith its other end against an element 61 mounted on rod 52. Due to theeffect of spring 60, the rod 52 is pressed upward in FIG- URE 3. Ahydraulic device is mounted on the supporting arm 28 for lifting therocker 57 off the last bottom, the cylinder of this hydraulic devicebeing designated by the reference numeral 62 and the piston beingdesignated by the reference numeral 63. The cylinder 62 is supplied withhydraulic fluid from line 64 via inlet 65. The piston 63 presses againstthe abutment 61 for the spring 60. If, now, the cylinder 62 hashydraulic fluid applied thereto, then the rod 52 in FIGURE 3 isdisplaced downwardly, and the rocker 57 is lifted off the bottom of thelast. The last can then be removed from the machine.

The parts of the machine which are essential for the invention aresuspended on the main support element 9, which is pivotally connected toan axle 8 mounted in the side walls 66 of the machine. The main supportelement 9 has an approximately U-shaped configuration. In the spacebetween the legs of the U-space, the last jack 6, the supporting arm 28,and the rod 52, as well as the parts directly pertaining to this rod,are accommodated.

By means of the main support element 9, the parts of the machineessential to the invention can be shifted between the positionsillustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2. For the pivoting of the main supportelement 9, which has to be conducted in each particular case, ahydraulic unit is provided having a piston 67 which can be activated byhydraulic fluid from both sides, the piston 67 being disposed in acylinder 68 (FIGURE 1). The hydraulic unit 67, 68 is mounted in themachine frame, designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 81,by means of a mounting lug pivotable about an axle pin 69, which lug isprovided at the lower end of the cylinder 68. The free end of the pistonrod 70 is joined to the main support element 9 by means of a bolt 71(FIGURE 2). The

cylinder 68 can be supplied with hydraulic fluid, regulated by a valve,which is not shown in the drawings, by

Way of the conduit 72 and the inlet 73 or by way of the position (FIGURE2), hydraulic fluid is supplied to the hydraulic unit '67, 68 from theconduit 74, whereby the piston rod 70 is retracted, with a correspondingpivoting of the main support element 9. The pivoting motion can bereversed, in the course of an operating step of the machine to bedescribed in detail below, by placing the hydraulic unit 67, 68 underpressure by hydraulic fluid from the conduit 72. For fixing the mainsupport element 9 in the lasting position of the last, a hydraulicdevice is provided which is mounted at the machine frame and comprises acylinder 76, a piston 77, and a return spring 78 incorporated into thecylinder 76 (FIGURE 3). This hydraulic device is supplied with hydraulicfluid from conduit 79 by way of inlet 80. When the piston 77 is underhydraulic pressure in the lasting position of the last, the piston 77presses against the main support element 9. If the hydraulic pressure isreleased, the fixed position is eliminated due to the return of thepiston 77 under the influence of spring 78.

Reference numeral 82 designates the heated heel shaping pad for shapingthe heel of the upper in the lasting position, and reference numeral 83denotes the scissors for lasting the heel.

The mode of operation of the machine will now be described. Upon placingthe lasted upper, which already contains a pre-softened stiffeningelement, onto the last support 3, the main support element 9, the lastjack 6, and the supporting arm 28, as well as the pulling grippers 29,have the position illustrated in FIGURE 1, wherein the retracted (basic)position of the last jack 6 is fixed by placing the hydraulic device 20,21 under the pressure of hydraulic fluid. Since the hydraulic unit 62,63 is likewise under hydraulic pressure, the insertion of the last intothe machine is not impeded by the rocker 57.

By means of the adjusting nut 43, the roller 30 can be brought intocontact with the last. An actuation of the adjusting nut 43 is generallyrequired only when exchanging the last model. The same holds true forany additional adjustment of the pulling grippers 29' by displacing thebolt 49 in the bearing 48; the respective adjustment of the roller 30and of the pulling grippers 29 is dependent to a great extent upon thecamber of the last. The grippers 29 can furthermore be adjusted at alarger or smaller spacing from the tip of the shoe with the actuation ofthe set screw 38 by altering the basic position of the supporting arm 28(that is, the position assumed by the supporting arm before thehydraulic cylinder 32, 33 is under pressure of hydraulic fluid). Anadditional adjustment to be executed in certain cases consists indisplacing the pivot point 31 of the supporting arm 28 after slackeningthe screws 26 and shifting the connecting piece 25. By this means, thepulling direction with respect to the bottom of the last can be variedwhen the upper is later pulled forward.

Once the above-mentioned adjustments, as far as required, have beenexecuted, the pressure upon the hydraulic device 62, 63 is terminated.'Under the effect of the spring 60, the rocker 57 is brought intoengagement with the last bottom so that the last is securely pressedagaints the last support 3.

Next, the grippers .29 close upon the gripper claws under the effect ofa hydraulic device which is not shown in the drawing. During this step,the rim 2' of the upper, which forms the future lasting margin of theupper, and which extends beyond the bottom of the last, is caught by thegrippers and is tightly clamped between the gripper claws.

The hydraulic device 32, 33 is then put under pressure by hydraulicfluid. This pivots the supporting arm 28 about the bolt 31 toward thetip of the last. The grippers 29 are entrained and pull the upperforwardly on the last, i.e., toward the toe of the last. After thepulling-forward step is terminated, the position of the heel seamholding the two longitudinal portions of the upper together iscorrected, if necessary, in such a manner that this seam extends exactlyalong the vertex line of the last. This correction is conducted bycorrespondingly pivoting the gripper-support bearing 45 about thethreaded bolt 42. By this means, either the outer or the inner side ofthe upper is pulled more strongly toward the tip of the last. During thecorrection of the heel and/ or the heel seam are positioned exactly inthe line of sight of the operator standing in front of the operatingside of the machine, which considerably facilitates the correctingoperation. Once this step is finished, the hydraulic device 67, 68 isput under pressure by hydraulic fluid from conduit 74, which pivots themain support element 9 about the axle 8 from the position illustrated inFIGURE 1 to the position shown in FIGURE 2. In order not to impede thispivoting motion, the stop 7 and the heel shaping pad 82 are still in theposition shown in FIGURE 1. However, as soon as the main support element9 has reached its terminal position, the stop 7 is brought into theposition seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, in a conventional manner, which limitsthe movement of the last jack 6 now being extended by hydraulic fluidfrom conduit 14 to the hydraulic device 10, '11. The last jack 6 isarrested as soon as the last abuts the stop 7. The last bottom is now onthe level of the plane wherein subsequently the heel lasting scissors 83are pivoted. In the meantime, the main support element '9 was fixed inits terminal position by placing the hydraulic device 76 to 78 underhydraulic pressure. The heated heel shaping pad 82 is now placed againstthe last and pressed firmly thereagainst. Thereafter, the heatedscissors 83 commence their inward pivoting in a conventional manner,which scissors fold the upper edge 2 over onto the last bottom, or ontothe insole stitched thereon and press the edge thereagainst. If theinsole was previously provided with an adhesive in the marginal zone,then the lasting margin 2 is glued to the insole.

In the inwardly pivoted position of the scissors 83, the stop 7 isretracted into the position shown in FIGURE 1, and then hydraulic fluidis fed to the hydraulic device 10, -11 from conduit 17. Consequently,the last is placed upon the scissors under a strong pressure,contributing to a permanent adhesive connection of the lasting marginwith the insole and to the formation of a sharp edge between the lastingmargin and the sides of the upper.

After the lasting operation is finished, conducted so that it was easilyvisible to the operator standing in front of the operators side of themachine, whereby any necessary corrections at the lasting margin couldbe executed, the scissors open up and the pulling grippers are likewiseopened; the heel shaping pad is restored to its starting position; andthe hydraulic device 62, 63 is supplied with hydraulic fluid. After therocker 57 has lifted off the last bottom, the last is removed from thelast support 3. In order to return the machine hereafter to its startingposition, in order to insert a new lasted upper, the pressure is removedfrom the hydraulic device 76 to 78, and the hydraulic device 67, 68 issupplied with hydraulic fluid via conduit 72. At the same time, the lastjack 6 is also returned to its original position by placing thehydraulic device 20, 21 under pressure with hydraulic fluid. Thereafter,the machine is ready to receive a new lasted upper.

Since the parts of the machine pertaining to the invention are suitablyoperated hydraulically, the entire operation of the machine can likewisebe controlled hydraulically with the use of appropriate switching valvesactuated by hand levers and/or foot pedals. In order to increase theefficiency of the machine, the individual movements should overlap asfar as possible.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 4-6 difiers from theabove-described machine substantially in that there is provided, inaddition to the forward pulling feature, a device for overriding theupper. By means of such an additional device, the alignment of theentire upper, i.e., including the front portion thereof, on the last ismade possible. Such an alignment, effected by the overriding andforward-pulling devices, conducted in connection with the upper canprevent the formation of distortions, creases, and accumulations ofmaterial in the ankle zone of the upper.'Such undesired occurrences, asencountered when employing the conventional combined heel shaping andglue-lasting machine, can lead to rather grave difliculties during thesubsequent operating steps of lasting the toe, sides, and ball portionof the upper.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 4-6, a crosspiece 45 effective as atwo-armed lever is again provided on the threaded bolt 42 forming anextension of the supporting arm 28. Crosspiece 45 has an extension 45'facing the front, with a downwardly directed leg 45". A support 111 ismounted on the leg 45 to be pivotable about the pin 85, this supportbeing intended for the toe gripper designated by 84 in its entirety. Theconstruction of crosspiece 45 and of the gripper support can best beseen from FIGURE 4. The basic position of the toe gripper 84 can beregulated by means of an adjusting screw 86, which screw is provided ina thread of an abutment plate 87 of the leg 45" at the front side. Thegripper support is constantly pressed against the front face of theadjusting screw 86 by the compression spring 88 resting with one of itsends against the gripper support 111 and with its other end against thelug 45' of the crosspiece 45.

A hydraulic device is provided in the leg 45". Two pistons 89, 90 arehoused in the hydraulic cylinder, which can be supplied with pressuremedium from the conduit 91. A compression spring 92 is effective uponthe piston 89 facing the toe gripper 84, which spring is so constructed,in comparison with the compression spring 88, that, upon the feeding ofhydraulic fluid from the conduit 91, first the piston 89 is displacedand the gripper 84 engaging the upper edge 2 is placed into its closedposition. Only thereafter, and upon a further pressure increase in thehydraulic cylinder, the piston 90 is likewise displaced, which latterpiston has a roller 93 at the end extending out of the cylinder. Bymeans of roller 93, the piston 90 presses upon an inclined surface 94formed at the extension 45 of the crosspiece 45. Thereby, the grippersupport 111 is pivoted in the counterclockwise direction about the bolt4, against the force of the spring 88. Consequently, the toe gripper 84pulls the upper on the last forwardly. Thus, the toe gripper exerts thesame effect as the pulling grippers 29 provided in the embodiment ofFIGURES 1-3 laterally beside the upper. When, during the operation ofthe machine, after the lasting of the heel, the pressure in line 91 isreduced, then the toe gripper, as can readily be seen, returns to itsoriginal position and then frees the upper margin 2'.

On each arm of the gripper-supporting bearing 45, a fishplate 95 ismounted, extending to the last beyond the last bottom (see, inparticular, FIGURE 6). The fishplates 95 carry the last support 96comparable with respect to its effect to the rocker 57 illustrated inthe embodiment of FIGURES 1-3. At this last support, two arms 97 aremounted, each of which projects beyond one side of the last; these arms97 can be pivoted about a pin 98 provided in the last support, at rightangles to the last bottom. The arms 97 serve as carriers for the lateralgrippers, designated by 109 in their entirety which can be adjusted bymeans of the clamp handle 99 to the respective shape and size of thelast.

For closing the lateral grippers 109, a hydraulic device having acylinder 100 and a piston 101 is provided, which piston can be movedagainst the force of a spring 103 when put under pressure by hydraulicfluid from line 102. The piston moves the externally positioned gripperjaw 109' toward the internally provided jaw 109" fixedly mounted at thearm 97. After the gripper jaws have been closed, the edge 2' of theupper is clamped therebetween.

Thereafter, the overriding of the upper can be commenced. For thispurpose, a hydraulic device with a cylinder 104 and a piston 105 ismounted to each fishplate 95. The cylinder has hydraulic fluid suppliedthereto from conduit 106. By placing the piston 105 under pressure, thelatter presses against the supporting arm 97 pertaining thereto whichthus is pivoted away from the bottom of the last, entraining the(closed) lateral grippers, about the pin 98. Thereby, an overriding pullis exerted upon the lasted upper 2.

After the overriding operation has been completed, the seating of theupper 2 on the last 1 can be corrected by actuating the hand levers 107fastened to the supporting arms 97, by again pivoting the crosspiece 45about the pin 42. The adjusting nut 83 seated on the pin 42 makes itpossible again to change the adjustment of the entire group of gripperswith respect to the last bottom and in ependence upon the camber of thelast.

After lasting of the heel, the hydraulic pressure in conduits 102 and106 is removed. Thereby, the grippers 109 are opened and supporting arms97 and thus also the lateral grippers 109 seated thereon are returned tothe starting position, on account of the tension spring 108 effective atthe supporting arms, which spring is suspended with its other end on apin 110 connected with the hydraulic device 104, 105. In thisconnection, the piston 105 is pushed back within the cylinder 104.

What is claimed is:

1. In a shoe heel shaping and lasting machine, the improvementcomprising, in combination:

(a) a last jack for receiving a shoe last containing the upper portionof a shoe;

(b) means mounting said last jack for rotation between a first positionin which the heel of such shoe last faces toward the operators side ofthe lasting machine and a second position in which the heel of such shoelast faces away from the operators side of the lasting machine, thelongitudinal axis of such shoe last forming an angle of between degreesand 60 degrees with the horizontal in the first position of said lastjack and forming an angle of less than 90 degrees with the vertical inthe second position of said last jack with the heel of such shoe lastfacing upwardly; and (c) means for shaping and lasting the heel of suchupper portion of a shoe in the second position of said last jack.

2. In a shoe heel shaping and lasting machine, the improvementcomprising, in combination:

(a) a last jack for receiving a shoe last containing the upper portionof a shoe;

(b) means mounting said last jack for rotation between a first positionin which the heel of such shoe last faces toward the operators side ofthe lasting machine and a second position in which the heel of such shoelast faces away from the operators side of the lasting machine thelongitudinal axis of such shoe last forming an angle of between degreesand 50 degrees with the horizontal in the first position of said lastjack and forming an angle of between 10 degrees and 45 degrees with thevertical in the second position of said last jack with the heel of suchshoe last facing upwardly; and

(0) means for shaping and lasting the heel of such upper portion of ashoe in the second position of said last jack.

3. The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said last jack issupported on a support member which is pivotable about an axle, andfurther comprising a first hydraulically operated drive device coupledto said support member for rotating said last jack between said firstand said second positions thereof.

4. The improvement defined in claim 3 and further comprising secondhydraulic drive means mounted on said sup port member for moving saidlast jack longitudinally.

5. The improvement defined in claim 4 wherein said second hydraulicdrive means contains two pressure bearing surfaces which dilferappreciably in size from each other.

6. In a shoe heel shaping and lasting machine, the improvementcomprising, in combination:

(a) a last jack for receiving a shoe last containing the upper portionof a shoe;

(b) means mounting said last jack for rotation between a first positionin which the heel of such shoe last faces toward the operators side ofthe lasting machine and a second position in which the heel of such shoelast faces away from the operators side of the lasting machine;

(c) means for shaping and lasting the heel of such upper portion of ashoe in the second position of said last jack;

(d) a supporting arm attached to said last jack, said supporting armbeing movable parallel to the central plane of the shoe last;

(e) gripper means coupled to said supporting arm; and

(f) third hydraulic drive means for moving said supporting arm towardthe tip of the shoe last.

7. The improvement defined in claim 6 wherein said supporting arm ispivoted with respect to said last jack and wherein the axis of thepivotal connection between said supporting arm and last jack isadjustable.

8. The improvement defined in claim 7 and further comprising anextension member adjustably connected to the end of said supporting arm,said gripper means being coupled to said extension member.

9. The improvement defined in claim 8 wherein a gripper-supportingmember is attached to said extension member and wherein said grippermeans are coupled to said gripper-supporting member.

10. The improvement defined in claim 3 and further comprising meanscoupled to said support member for contacting the bottom of said last.

11. The improvement defined in claim 10 wherein said means forcontacting the bottom of said last is shaped like a rocker and ispivotable in a plane parallel to the central plane of the last, the armsof the rocker shaped member engaging the last bottom on both sides ofthe point at which the direction of curvature of :the last bottomchanges between the ankle and the ball portions thereof.

12. The improvement defined in claim 11 wherein said means forcontacting the bottom of said last is attached to a rod member which ismovable toward and away from the bottom of said last, and furthercomprising fourth hydraulic drive means for moving said rod member.

13. The improvement defined in claim 6 wherein said support membercomprises a U-shaped frame and wherein said last jack and saidsupporting arm are positioned between the arms of said U-shaped frame.

14. The improvement defined in claim 8 wherein two overriding grippersare attached :to said extension member in lateral position beside saidlast and wherein a pulling gripper is attached to said extension memberin front of the tip of said last.

15. The improvement defined in claim 14 and further comprising a grippersupport member coupled to said extension member, said grippers beingcoupled to said gripper support member.

16. The improvement defined in claim 15 and further comprising a lastsupport attached to said gripper support member, said overridinggrippers being pivotally mounted to said gripper support member to bepivotable in a plane at right angles to the central plane of the last.

17. The improvement defined in claim 15 wherein said gripper supportmember has a projection directed to- 11 12 ward the tip of the last, andfurther comprising a toe References Cited gripper pivotally mounted onsaid projection to be pivot- UNITED STATES PATENTS able in a planeparallel to the central plane of the last.

18. The improvement defined in claim 17 and further 2'034O38 3/1936Holmglien comprising a fifth hydraulic drive means for moving 5 5225 35i said toe gripper away from the tip of said last and for 3O87176 4/1963Deschenes 12 12 5 closing said toe gripper, said fifth hydraulic drivemeans containing two pistons, one of said pistons being effec- PATRICKLAWSON, Primary Examiner. tive for closing said toe gripper and theother of said two pistons being effective for moving said toe gripperaway 10 US, Cl, X R

from the tip of said last. 12-126

